Someone asked an interesting question: who prescribes Fentanyl and other deadly recreational drugs and why do they get away with it? All the time people are hospitalized as a result of OD'ing on Fentanyl and other deadly recreational drugs, involved in accidents or otherwise. A good question would be to find out who is writing the prescription. If it be doctors or similar health professionals do they take to time to make a reasoned diagnosis? Do they stick to limits to ensure that the drugs are not dealt?
Or are pharmacists sometimes illicitly writing the scrips? I think this epidemic would come to a grinding halt with a few well-publicized arrests; people in white coats trading them for pin stripes.
I know of no one or way to get a "fentanyl pill" prescription from my local pharmacy.
In medical community fentanyl is not used as a pain reliever but as a surgical sedative.
If you want to place blame for the fentanyl "epidemic" the properly place it on the opioid crisis propagated by the pharmacy industry. Doctors are afraid to prescribe effective medications for person in pain so people turn to the streets where fentanyl is a cheap effective alternative.
I am a person living in constant pain. On that lovely 1-10 scale they love to use my pain level is never below 3 and usually sits in the 5-7 range. I refuse to use addictive medications (been there, done that) and use alternatives.
Treating pain requires of the patient they be able to predict their pain levels months in advance so they can receive appropriate treatments. A ridiculous scenario at best.
To get
trigger point injections: 2-3 week wait
epidural: 1-2 months
If one needs these treatments the choices are to use heavy drugs or suffer. Unfortunately doctors are hesitant to prescribe sufficient dosage to provide relief for fear of drawing the DEA's attention so the patient is left to suffer.
I can understand why many of these patients along with long term opioid users turn to the street for relief. I've been tempted but, for me, the risk is not worth it.
But, for a patient dying of cancer, severe rheumatoid arthritis, spine issues...
The solution lies in making pain treatment more widely available, less expensive, and more effectively managed over time.
There will always be those for whom drug use is recreational. Addictive personalities. You can't legislate morality but for people who suffer needlessly because of corporate greed the solution is clear.